First, I’m doing a little happy dance because our personnel committee has re-written the family leave policy to provide 8 weeks paid maternity leave. (The policy had previously been FMLA—unpaid/use your vacation—and an earlier draft this time around offered 6 weeks paid, but a few of us advocated for 8, and the committee listened and generously responded.) Woo-hoo!

R was away this weekend for a work conference, so C and I had a fun girls’ weekend.

Yesterday we went to a church member’s lake house about 90 minutes away. The committee that called me to this church wanted to get together and celebrate my two-year anniversary at the church. Two years…? This group will find any excuse it can to get together. But it was sweet of them, and a relaxing day.

C had a wonderful time, in spite of a long day with a long drive, and no nap. On a whim I decided to paint her toenails, which she got a big kick out of. A woman and her 9-year-old daughter rode with us, and M (the daughter) kept C nicely entertained in the backseat. (When we pulled into the driveway last night, they were both conked out, holding one another’s hands… awwww…)

The dock had a screened-in area with a kiddie pool that was C’s space (safe space!). The screened porch had a door that squeaked loudly—a great feature, says this parent! It was nice to be able to sit and visit and relax a bit and give her frequent glances, rather than keeping my eyeballs trained on her constantly. Late in the afternoon she developed this little routine she did again and again and again (I think it’s a normal developmental thing? No, I hope it’s a normal developmental thing?). She would step into the pool and splash around, then get out and open and close the screen door, then jiggle the handle on the cooler, then walk over to me and give me a kiss! Utterly charming. Maybe the kiss is like touching home base.

Today we had been invited to tea at a church member’s house (it was a tea for 12, donated to our church’s silent auction), so we donned our sundresses, and C wore her Easter hat (I can’t pull off hats). She had a lovely time with the dolls and pint-sized china tea set that had been set out for her, messily pouring water from “her” teapot into our cups, and looking for fish and frogs in the pond at the rear of the backyard. She seemed to get that this was a grown-up event, yet still seemed to have fun.

This is going to be a hectic week. I leave Wednesday for a week and a half; first, I am helping lead a conference for young people considering ministry (college juniors and seniors, and some who are already seminary-bound). I will meet daily with a small group to reflect on ministry and help them process what’s happening at the conference, and will also serve on a panel of pastors. Anything you revpals want me to pass along to the next generation?

Then R and C will fly out that direction and stay with R’s mom and stepdad for a day or so, then I will join them for a day, then R and I go to Big Midwestern City for a few days of R&R—a delayed 10th anniversary celebration.

The amount of stuff we have to do to get ready is ginormous. I’m bringing all of R and C’s stuff with me, so they will only have to fly with minimal luggage. But we’ll get through it.

Hope you had a pleasant weekend.